Interactive system

ABSTRACT

An interactive video platform device which is configured to aggregate any type of content received from one or more sources into a common format, and distributes the aggregate content to a network for interactive communication among one or more remote video devices. The platform has particular applicability to on-line, interactive contest management.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 60/836,682 filed on Aug. 10, 2006,entitled “Interactive System,” which is incorporated by reference hereinin its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to an interactive video device platform,more particularly to a platform that can aggregate any type of contentreceived from one or a plurality of sources into a standardized formatand distribute this aggregated content to a network for interactivecommunication among one or more remote video devices.

BACKGROUND

The popularity of interactive contests such as, for example, fantasysports contests, has brought about great interest in obtaining currentinformation on a real time basis. In fantasy sports contests, acontestant selects real athletes as team members based on recentperformance and/or anticipated performance of these athletes as theparticipate in games, tournaments, contests, etc. The futureperformances of the selected players determines the contestant's score,in accordance with an algorithm based on preset performance criteria,i.e., a selected scoring system. A contestant can attempt to upgrade themakeup of the “fantasy team” or lineup by replacing one or more poorlyperforming players with other available players.

To be successful, it is incumbent upon a contestant to be able to accesscurrent information, not only about the players representing the currentmakeup of the team but also other players who may be available forselection or as trade objectives. Information beneficial for thesepurposes may include, but is not limited to, players' individualperformances, players' reported or actual physical condition, theperformance and schedule of the teams of which the players are members,locations where games are held, weather forecasts, and/or any otherinformation that contestants may find important. Contestants, of course,also want to know their current score and scores of other contestants.

Various sports Internet sites and news networks are available asinformation sources as well as the leagues themselves, individual team'swebsites, broadcast or print news services, Internet services, weatherservices, and, in some instances, fantasy sports providers. Informationmay be available via any number of sources, including but not limited tobroadcast and telecast, the Internet, or by conventionalnewspaper/magazine text.

With the expansion of the capability of video devices to interact viamedia such as cable, satellite, telephone and mobile networks, Internetand other wireless providers, the need exists for an interactive videodevice platform that can receive informational content received indifferent source formats and convert the information into a compatibleformat to be distributed to any interactive device, such as may beincluded, for example, in video systems. Provision of such content,whether on a real-time or delayed basis, with the ability to correlatethe content with other information, would be of substantial benefit forinteractive communication among remote devices. Additionally, it wouldprovide the opportunity for an individual users to access theinformation of their choosing on any interactive devices of theirchoosing.

SUMMARY OF DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure fulfills the needs described above. Aninteractive system allows for content, such as statistical data, videodata or other data, to be received by one or more suppliers and thenaggregated into a standardized format. The aggregated content can berepackaged and redistributed to any interactive devices. Any availablecommunication media may be accommodated for interactive videocommunication among users. The redistributed content can beindividualized for each receiving device such as, for example,information relevant to a contestant of a fantasy sports contest using,for example, a PC a PDA or mobile phone. The contestant mayinteractively communicate with either the database of availableinformation or one or more of the other contestants using a standardizedinteractive video device platform of the system. The redistributedcontent may also include both real time information, such as currentscores or video replays, as well as delayed information such as theoutcomes of games already completed, that are of common interest to oneor multiple end users.

The system allows end users who receive the aggregated content theopportunity to participate with one or more other such users in whateveroffering that is provided them on a standardized interactive platform.In a fantasy sports contest example, contestants using different devicesmight negotiate trades via the standardized platform.

In addition, the content aggregated by the standardized platform mayinclude a multitude of offerings, received from the informationproviders, or provided by another entity through the standardizedplatform, that can be forwarded to the end users. For example, offeringsmay include sales promotions, subscription enhancements, advertisements,sponsorships, free or pay-for-play games, premium services, prize pooland other fees, T-commerce, personalized video highlights and many otherfeatures. The aggregated output may include a message from any sponsor,promoter, advertiser, or other information provider.

The aggregated content can be sent by the platform to any interactivedevice to be linked with transmissions from other interactive media suchas cable, satellite, telephone and mobile wireless networks, Internetsites, and other providers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The drawing FIGURE is a schematic block diagram of an interactive videodisplay system in accordance with the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An interactive video display system is illustrated in the schematicblock diagram of the drawing FIGURE. The FIGURE exemplifies operation inthe context of a real-time interactive contest. User sessions areindicated to facilitate explanation of operation. It is to be understoodthat the system may be used for any interactive communicationapplication, the illustrated interactive contest being merely oneexample.

Interactive video device platform 20 is coupled to network 12 forcommunication with information providers, which may include contestproviders in the present example, and also coupled to network 10 forcommunication with end user interactive video display devices capable ofsending commands back through the communication network. Such devicesmay include, for example, personal computers or television receivers atcontestant premises, mobile phones, PDAs or any other communicationsdevice.

Networks 10 and 12, although represented as separate networks tofacilitate description of operation, both collectively represent a widerange of communication media, including cable, satellite, telephone andmobile networks, Internet, and wireless communication. The same ordifferent communication providers may be active as networks 10 and 12 inany particular interchange among remote sites.

Interactive video device platform 20 comprises input translator coupledto network 12 and provisioning engine 24 coupled to network 10. Inputtranslator 22 and provisioning engine 24 are each coupled to a processor26 that, in this example, maintains a real-time contest database. Theprocessor 26 is coupled to correlation engine 28.

The input translator 22 can receive one to an unlimited number ofsimultaneous sessions that may comprise feeds of real-time stats and/orreal-time fantasy contest scores. Each input set of input data may beprocessed via a single thread and correlated by correlation engine 28with any sponsorship or advertisement by an embedded software engine.Other content, such as ads, promotions, notices, messages, or otheritems of interest can be added. The input translator determines thecommunications protocol of the input data and collects other pertinentinformation about the input data source. The input translator aggregatesall feeds into a standard format and assigns a unique ID Container Tagand constructs a confidence level for a potential predicted response.For example, the confidence level assigned by the ID Container Tagenables the input translator to act as an agent to position the datawithin a contest database for correlation and a quick response or feeddirectly to the provisioning engine for a more immediate response.

The contest database 26 stores contextual user information, associatedcontent, and real-time contest information. It develops a profile ofeach unique contest requester and associates pertinent information fromone or more contests. It issues requests to the correlation engine 28and identifies any promotions specific to the contest and contestrequestor profile. The output is generated through the provisioningengine 24 for delivery over multiple communication network protocols

The correlation engine 28 serves as an intelligent marketing, sales andadvertising engine. It processes requests from the contest database 26and correlates any sponsorship, advertisement or sales promotion by anembedded software engine. For instance, the correlation engine maycombine the appropriate local, regional or national promotion byassociating the contest with the contest requestor's database profile.Correlation engine 28 aggregates content for a session and converts thecontent to a standardized format. The output is generated throughprovisioning engine 24 for delivery over multiple communication networkprotocols.

The input translator determines the communications protocol of the inputdata and collects other pertinent information about the input datasource. The input translator assigns a unique ID Container Tag to theinput data and constructs a confidence level for a potential predictedresponse. Based on the confidence level assigned by the ID ContainerTag, the input translator either positions the data within the ContestDatabase for correlation and a quick response or feeds directly to theCorrelation Engine for a more immediate response.

The term “contest service request” illustrated in the drawing FIGUREindicates any type of request or instruction sent from a communicationdevice to another device via the network. Similarly, the term “contestservice response” indicates any type of information provided in responseto the contest service request. Thus, the terms contest service requestand contest service response may be associated with both networks 10 and12.

The provisioning engine 24 receives information from the ContestDatabase or Correlation Engine and issues a contest service response ina format acceptable by the communications network and Interactive VideoDisplay. Thus, from the perspective of the Contest Requestor,connections with, for example, a Cable Operator are established in thesense that the Contest Requestor receives the appropriate login requestsand content as needed.

As an example, a contest service request can be a request to a web sitebased on http protocol. In this example, the content fetched from theweb site based on the contest service request is the contest serviceresponse. Alternatively, a contest service request can be, for example,an instruction to a software application. In the latter example, thecontest service request can be an instruction to conduct a fantasysports line-up change, which will change the contest data in one or morecontests to the communication device based on the instruction. In thisexample, the revised contest data is the contest service response.

1. An interactive video device platform for real time, on-line, contestservice, adapted for coupling on one or more networks to contestproviders, the platform comprising: an input translator for receivingone or a plurality of simultaneous sessions received from the one ormore networks, and aggregating the sessions into a common format; adatabase storing real time contest information and information fordeveloping a user profile for correlation with sponsorship oradvertisement data; a correlation engine coupled to the database forcorrelating said one or more sessions with the sponsorship oradvertisement data to be associated with users; and a provisioningengine coupled to the database for aggregating content for a session andconverting the aggregated content to a prescribed format for deliveryover one or more prescribed communication network protocols to theusers.